[The first Written Answer should have been printed yesterday.]Heavily Indebted Poorer Countries

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are re-assessing the importance to the world's poorest countries of complete debt relief in the light of events since September 2001; and whether they can estimate the cost to the United Kingdom of providing such relief.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: At their meetings in November last year both the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) of the IMF and the Development Committee of the IMF and the World Bank recognised that lower global growth prospects and declining terms of trade are likely to adversely affect many low-income countries.
	The IMFC, chaired by the Chancellor, called on the IMF, in close collaboration with the World Bank, to respond flexibly and proactively to the needs of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs), including through additional concessional financing and debt relief where appropriate.
	For all countries qualifying under the enhanced HIPC initiative, the UK is already providing complete debt relief at decision point under its 100 per cent policy. The UK continues to work hard to ensure that HIPC delivers an exit from unsustainable debt for all eligible countries. We also call on other countries to follow our leads on bilateral policies, such as 100 per cent relief at decision point, and in holding payments in trust for those countries yet to receive debt relief. Already 24 countries have qualified for debt relief, and they will benefit from over 56 billion dollars in debt reduction, which will bring their debts to below the developing countries average.

Public Service Agreements: Opportunity for All

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, and to what extent, public service agreements for government departments for the 2001–04 spending round made provision for gender-based targets, such as equal pay, sex equality and flexible working.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The public service agreements were set out in Spending Review 2000: Public Service Agreements 2001–2004 (Cm 4808). They focus on the key improvements in services the Government are seeking to deliver in return for the investment they are making and are consistent with their priority of increasing opportunity for all.

Lord Chancellor's Department DEL

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are any plans to change the Lord Chancellor's Department's departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limits for 2001–02.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the Lord Chancellor's Department's (including the Northern Ireland Court Service and the Public Records Office) DEL will be increased by £89,792,000, from £2,871,573,000 to £2,961,365,000, and the administration costs limit will be increased by £31,308,000, from £684,425,000 to £715,733,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table:
	
		All figures are £000s 
		
			  Resources Capital 
			  Change New DEL Of which voted Non-voted Change New DEL Of which voted Non-voted 
			 LCD 85,181 2,798,549 2,709,690 88,859 -3,672 37,894 30,094 7,800 
			 NICtS -3,378 78,622 73,082 5,540 6,561 12,561 12,561 — 
			 PRO 4,750 32,345 32,345 0 350 1,394 1,394 — 
			 Total 86,553 2,909,516 2,815,117 94,399 3,239 51,849 49,049 7,800 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL is the net effect of take-up of £60,000,000 from the asylum reserve; draw-down of £226,000 administration costs from the Invest to Save Budget; transfer of £7,000,000 (administration costs) from Northern Ireland Court Service; reduction of departmental unallocated provision of £12,208,000, of which £4,674,000 is administration costs; transfers from the Home Office in respect of: machinery of government changes, £2,371,000, of which £121,000 is administration costs; CJS reserve entitlement, £1,241,000 administration costs, and other projects, £207,000 of which £83,000 administration costs; a total transfer from the Department of Health in respect of various projects in the sum of £164,000, of which £123,000 is administration costs; transfer to the Department of Trade and Industry of £50,000; transfers from the Department of Transport, Local Authorities and the Regions of £512,000 administration costs; transfer to the Public Records Office of £300,000 administration costs; a reduction of £436,000 administration costs arising from an adjustment of incorrect recording of NAO fees; take up of £27,000,000 from the reserve, of which £5,000,000 is administration costs to the Public Guardianship Office; a transfer of £10,000,000 to LCDHQ administration costs in accordance with the Chief Secretary of the Treasury's letter to me of 14 February 2002; and a transfer of £5,100,000 administration costs from capital.
	The decrease in the Northern Ireland Court Service's resource element of DEL is the net effect of a transfer of £7,000,000 of RfR1 administration costs to the LCD; a transfer from the Northern Ireland Office of £2,200,000 into RfR1 administration and end year flexibility draw-down of £1,442,000.
	The change in the Public Records Office resource element of DEL arises from the take up of £4,200,000 end year flexibility, £250,000 in respect of the Modernising Government initiative and a transfer of £300,000 administration costs from LCD.
	The change in the capital element of the DEL is the net effect of a transfer from the Home Office of £307,000 in respect of the Capital Modernisation Fund; draw-down of £65,000 from the Invest to Save Budget; a transfer of £5,000,000 to the Northern Ireland Court Service; and a transfer of £5,100,000 to LCDHQ administration costs.
	The change in the Northern Ireland Court Service's capital element of DEL arises from take up of end year flexibility entitlement of £1,561,000 and a transfer of £5,000,000 from LCD.
	The change in the Public Records Office capital element of DEL arises from the take up of £350,000 end year flexibility entitlement.
	The increases will be offset by interdepartmental transfers, increases to appropriations in aid, take up of end year flexibility entitlements and a charge to the DEL reserve and will therefore not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office DEL

Baroness Thornton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are any plans to change the departmental expenditure limit (DEL) and the administration costs limits for 2001–02.

Baroness Amos: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office DEL will be increased by £32,584,000 from £1,362,704,000 to £1,395,288,000 and the administration costs limits will be increased by £34,335,000 from £634,598,000 to £668,933,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table:
	
		£000 
		
			 Resources Capital 
			 Change New DEL Of which: voted Non-voted Change New DEL Of which: voted Non-voted 
			 32,600 1,268,738 1,100,856 167,882 -16 126,550 103,050 23,500 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of DEL arises from:
	(i) an increase of £965,000 in respect of take up of EYF;
	(ii) an increase of £9,462,000 in respect of an adjustment for overseas price movements;
	(iii) a net increase of £10,000,000 as a result of a reserve claim for September 11 related activity;
	(iv) a PES transfer to the Ministry of Defence of £1,154,000 in respect of British Defence Staff in Washington;
	(v) an increase of £18,944,000 to reflect transfers from capital to improve budgetary flexibility;
	(vi) an increase of £2,330,000 relating to a successful bid against the reserve for funds to tackle organised crime;
	(vii) a PES transfer to the Department for International Development of £8,061,000 in respect of funding arrangements on the conflict prevention pool;
	(viii) a decrease in the FCO's Resource DEL of £5,743,000 to reflect a corresponding overspend on the FCO's resource DEL last financial year;
	(ix) a PES transfer from the Ministry of Defence of £125,000 relating to funding for Ascension Island;
	(x) a PES transfer to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport of £2,000,000 towards the cost of mounting the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester;
	(xi) an increase of £2,145,000 in the FCO's departmental unallocated pool for conflict prevention to reflect an increase in funding levels;
	(xii) a PES transfer from the Department for International Development of £18,837,000 to reflect revisions to funding arrangements for conflict prevention;
	(xiii) a PES transfer to the Ministry of Defence of £15,000,000 to reflect revisions to funding arrangements for conflict prevention;
	(xiv) a PES transfer from the Department for International Development of £1,750,000 to reflect revisions to funding arrangements for conflict prevention.
	The change in the capital element of DEL arises from:
	(i) an increase of £1,200,000 to capital to reflect a successful bid against the Capital Modernisation Fund;
	(ii) an increase of £828,000 in respect of an adjustment for overseas price movements;
	(iii) an increase of £16,900,000 as a result of a reserve claim for September 11 related activity;
	(iv) a decrease of £18,944,000 to reflect transfers from capital to resource in order to improve budgetary flexibility.
	The increases will be offset by interdepartmental transfers and will not impact on the planned total of public expenditure.

Sierra Leone: UN Sanctions

Baroness Whitaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What changes there have been in United Nations sanctions in relation to Sierra Leone.

Baroness Amos: UN Security Council Resolution 1385 (2001) was adopted on 19 December 2001.
	The resolution extends for a further 11 months the mandatory UN embargo on the export of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone originally imposed for a period of 18 months by UNSCR 1306 (2000) of 5 July 2000.
	Diamonds certified under the Government of Sierra Leone certification scheme continue to remain exempt from the embargo.
	The UK originally played a leading role in promoting UNSCR 1306 in the UN Security Council. It continues to support measures aimed at breaking the link between conflict and the illicit trade in rough diamonds.
	The embargo is implemented in the UK and the Isle of Man by means of an amendment to the open general licence, effected on 17 July 2000, and in the Channel Islands and Overseas Territories by Orders in Council under the United Nations Act 1946 (S.I. Nos 1822/2000 and 1840/2000).

Antiquities of National Importance

Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the items of Bronze Age treasure referred to in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport News Release 7/02 of 22 January will now be referred to a coroner's inquest in pursuance of the legislation pertaining to treasure trove in force at the time of their alleged first sale and as subsequently amended; whether the presence now of these items on the market could properly be construed as lawful if their original discovery has been concealed contrary to law; and whether the Minister upon the expiry of the announced temporary bar on the export of these items will refuse an export licence in pursuance of Article 2 of the EC Regulation (3911/92) on the Export of Cultural Goods; and
	Whether they would recommend the application of public funds to secure for the nation national treasures where the finder of the antiquities in question has apparently failed to report their discovery to a coroner; and whether turning a blind eye to such an apparent breach of the law risks setting a precedent for the future restriction of the illicit traffic in antiquities.

Baroness Blackstone: The first public appearance of these items predates the Treasure Act 1996. They, therefore, would have come under the earlier common law of treasure trove, which required proof that items had been deliberately buried with the intention of recovery. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has investigated the provenance of these items and, as there is no evidence of the original date or place of finding, is advised that it would not be possible to demonstrate that the items might be treasure trove; nor is there any evidence that the original discovery of the items was concealed.
	The temporary bar on export provides an opportunity for interest to be expressed in acquiring items of national importance so that they may be retained within the UK. As with every case, if, by the end of the initial deferral period (22 February 2002) an expression of interest has been received, the Minister can take this into account when deciding whether or not to extend the deferral period for a further month.
	Acquisitions are the responsibility of the governing bodies of national institutions and are considered in line with the policies of that institution. It is possible that an institution may on occasion decide to act as a repository of last resort for an item which lacks a full documented provenance.

Free Television Licences

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the annual sum now paid by them to the BBC in lieu of the free television licences that can be claimed by those households in which a person over the age of 75 holds a television licence.

Baroness Blackstone: The amount paid to the BBC in respect of free television licences issued to people aged 75 or over in the financial year 2000–01 was £306 million. The forecast for the current financial year is £354 million.

BBC's Digital Channels for Children

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the BBC is in breach of the terms of its agreement with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport over the upper limit imposed on the output of imported cartoons broadcast on the two new digital channels for children (that is, CBBC and Cbeebies); and, if so, what action they have taken.

Baroness Blackstone: The Secretary of State's approval for the BBC's new digital children's channels included conditions that around 90 per cent of Cbeebies' output and around 75 per cent of CBBC's output would be made in the European Union/European Economic Area. The BBC has assured me that it is fully meeting both these conditions.

Export of Cultural Goods

Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art has since 1992 updated its terms of reference and notes of guidance in order to take account of the EC Regulation (3911/92) on the Export of Cultural Goods, whereby an export licence sought for cultural goods originating in a member state may be refused when the presence on the market of the goods in question is not lawful; and
	On how many occasions since 1992 they have placed a temporary bar upon the export of cultural goods under the application of the Waverley criteria; and on how many occasions since 1992 they have refused an export licence for cultural goods under the application of the EC Regulation (3911/92) on the Export of Cultural Goods; and
	Whether they have appropriate procedures to check and restrict the export of illicit cultural goods, as provided for under EC Regulation (3911/92) on the Export of Cultural Goods.

Baroness Blackstone: The terms of reference of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art have remained the same since its establishment in 1952. They will be considered as part of the current quinquennial review of the reviewing committee. The procedures and guidance for exporters of works of art, taking into account the EC Regulation (3911/92) on the Export of Cultural Goods, is issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and was last updated in 1997.
	For the reporting years 1992–2001, the Secretary of State, following the committee's advice, placed a temporary bar on the export of 187 items, and refused a licence on nine occasions, during the same period, because the owner of the item concerned would not accept a matching offer at the recommended fair market price.
	Where an object has come into the UK from another EU member state on or after 1 January 1993, either directly or via a non-EU country, applicants requiring an EC licence to export from the UK are required to include with their application evidence that the object was legally despatched from the originating member state. No licence is issued until satisfactory information has been provided by applicants. Three EC licences have been refused as a result of illegal removal from another member state.

Export of Cultural Goods

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the sterling threshold for the requirements for export licences for cultural goods; what representations have been made in the past year by either Ministers or officials of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to the European Commission to raise the threshold; and when was the last occasion upon which the threshold was raised.

Baroness Blackstone: The attached table sets out the thresholds above which an individual export licence is required for the export of cultural goods both under the UK or the EC licencing system. The thresholds for EC licences are those established under EC Regulation 3911/92, on the export of cultural goods, introduced into UK law on 1 April 1993. The UK licence thresholds were last revised at the same time in order to rationalise the UK limits, so far as possible, with those contained in the regulation.
	DCMS officials and I use every available opportunity to press for the limits to be updated at least in line with inflation, as provided in the EC Regulation 3911/92. We have also welcomed the Commission's new initiatives to contribute to the effective functioning of the mechanisms set up by the regulation, including making the maximum use of new technologies to improve its implementation.
	
		
			 Category of object UK Licence* EC Licence* 
			 1. Any cultural object not listed below which is more than 50 years old £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 2. Manuscripts and documents (not being printed matter), including maps and musical scores, singly or in collections, which are more than 50 years old Zero Zero 
			  
			 3. Archives, and any elements thereof, of any kind, on any medium which are more than 50 years old Zero Zero 
			  
			 4. Architectural, scientific and engineering drawings produced by hand, more than 50 years old Zero £11,900 
			 5. Archaeological material or any object more than 50 years old found in UK soil or its terroritorial waters, other than any object buried or concealed for less than 50 years Zero Zero 
			  
			 6. Archaeological material or any object more than 50 years old found in soil or waters outside the UK and its territorial waters which is: (i) 50–100 years old (ii) more than 100 years old £39,600 £39,600 No EC licence required Zero 
			  
			 7. Elements forming an integral part of artistic, historical or religious monuments, which have been dismembered, and which are: (i) 50–100 years old (ii) more than 100 years old £39,600 £39,600 No EC licence required Zero 
			  
			 8. Incunabula more than 50 years old £39,600 Zero 
			  
			 9. Textiles more than 50 years old (excluding carpets and tapestries in category 30) £6,000 £39,600 
			  
			 10. Photographs, films and negatives thereof, which are more than 50 years old £6,000 £11,900 
			  
			 11. Portraits or likenesses of British historic persons (made otherwise than by photography and excluding a coin) which are more than 50 years old £6,000 £119,000 
			  
			 12. Mosaics (other than those falling in the categories 5, 6 and 7), which are more than 50 years old £39,600 £11,900 
			  
			 13. Drawings executed entirely by hand on any medium and in any material, more than 50 years old £39,600 £11,900 
			  
			 14. Original engravings, prints, serigraphs, and lithographs and their respective plates, and original posters, more than 50 years old £39,600 £11,900 
			  
			 15. Printed maps which are: (i) 50–200 years old (ii) more than 200 years old £39,600 £39,600 No EC licence required £11,900 
			  
			 16. Firearms which are: (i) 50–100 years old (ii) more than 100 years old £39,600 £20,000 £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 17. Arms and armour more than 50 years old £20,000 £39,600 
			  
			 18. Optical, photographic or cinematographic apparatus more than 50 years old £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 19. Original sculptures or statuary, and copies produced by the same process as the original, which are more than 50 years old, other than those in categories 5 and 6 £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 20. Books which are: (i) 50–100 years old (ii) more than 100 years old (iii) a collection more than 100 years old £39,600 £39,600 No EC licence required £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 21. Means of transport which are: (i) 50–75 years old (ii) more than 75 years old £39,600 £39,600 No EC licence required £39,600 
			  
			 22. Toys more than 50 years old £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 23. Pottery, glassware, silver, metalwork and jewellery more than 50 years old £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 24. Furniture and woodwork more than 50 years old £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 25. Musical instruments more than 50 years old £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 26. Clocks and watches and parts thereof, more than 50 years old £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 27. Wallpaper more than 50 years old £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 28. Scientific and mechanical material more than 50 years old £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 29. Carpets and tapestries more than 50 years old £39,600 £39,600 
			  
			 30. Paintings in water-colour, gouache or pastel, which are more than 50 years old, other than portraits of British historic persons in category 11 £39,600 £23,800 
			  
			 31. Paintings in oil or tempera, which are more than 50 years old, other than portraits of British historic persons in category 11 £119,000 £119,000 
			 32. Collections of and specimens from zoological, botanical, mineralogical or anatomical collections more than 50 years old No UK licence required £39,600 
			  
			 33. Collections of historical, palaeontological, ethnographic or numismatic interest (other than objects in categories 5 and 6) more than 50 years old No UK licence required £39,600 
		
	
	* A UK licence is required for the export of cultural goods to an EU member state. Most cultural goods exported to a non-EU destination require an EC licence but in those cases where the UK value is lower than the EU threshold, a UK licence is required.
	The UK threshold values were last reviewed and raised in 1993, in order to rationalise the UK and EC limits so far as possible.

National Museums and Galleries: Items on Overseas Loan

Lord Freyberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will name all items on overseas loan (not including temporary loans) from government-sponsored museums that have been outside the country for more than three years; and in each case whether they will give details of (a) when these items were originally sent on loan; (b) why they were sent on loan; and (c) whether the trustees of the museums concerned were aware that these items were on loan.

Baroness Blackstone: Answers for the museums and galleries sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are set out in the following table.
	Many of the loans listed in the table are duplicate items or are items which would otherwise be held in store. They comprise a tiny fraction of the millions of items held by National Museums and Galleries.
	
		
			  Government-sponsored Museum and Gallery   Brief description of item(s) on loan  When item(s) was originally loaned   Why the item(s) were sent on loan Whether the Trustees were aware that item(s) were on loan 
			 Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester No items are on long-term loan to overseas organisations — — — 
			 Horniman Museum No items are on long-term loan to overseas organisations — — — 
			 Imperial War Museum No items are on long-term loan to overseas organisations — — — 
			 Wallace Collection No items are on long-term loan to overseas organisations — — — 
			 Sir John Soane's Museum No items are on long-term loan to overseas organisations — — — 
			 Tyne & Wear Museums No items are on long-term loan to overseas organisations — — — 
			 Museum of London No items are on long-term loan to overseas organisations — — — 
			 National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside Base for a Delft vase September 1995 To the Metropolitan Museum for their Delft vase which needed a base Yes 
			 National Maritime Museum Three naval uniforms 1963 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display Yes 
			  Ship model Zeven Provencien 1971 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display Yes 
			  Ship model Kaiser Friedrich III 1977 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display Yes 
			  Navigational instrument: Artificial Horizon 1980 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display Yes 
			  Ship model Greenwich 1998 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display Yes 
			  Ship model Raleigh 1966 Loaned for exhibition/galley display Yes 
			 National Portrait Gallery Portrait Catherine of Braganza 1971 Loaned to Government Art Collection, British Embassy Lisbon Yes 
			  Portrait Warren Hastings 1987 Loaned to Government Art Collection, British High Commission, New Delhi Yes 
			  Portrait 4th Duke of Bedford 1981 Loaned to Government Art Collection, British Embassy Paris Yes 
			  Portrait Countess de Grammont 1973 Loaned to Government Art Collection, British Embassy Paris Yes 
			  Portrait Lady Masham 1981 Loaned to Government Art Collection, British Embassy Paris Yes 
			  Portrait Maria Sobieska 1980 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display Yes 
			  Portrait 1st Earl of Rochester 1980 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display Yes 
			 Tate Painting Bathing Scene, Bali October 1994 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to bridge the gap in the borrowing institution's holding of the artists work Yes 
			  Painting The Siege and Relief of Gibraltar 1968 Originally loaned to the Governor's residence in Gibraltar, but since 1993 loaned for exhibition/gallery display at the Gibraltar Museum Yes 
			  Painting Miss Louisa van Diest 1969 Loaned to Government Art Collection, British Embassy Paris Yes 
			  Painting Master Frederick van Diest 1969 Loaned to Government Art Collection, British Embassy Paris Yes 
			 National Museum of Science and Industry (National Museum of Photography, Film and TV) No items are on long-term loan to overseas organisations — — — 
			 National Museum of Science and Industry (Science Museum) Watkin aneroid barometer 1980 Loaned for display in Dutch Arctic Expeditions Gallery See Note 1 
			  Gregorian telescope 1990 Study and display See Note 1 
			  Iron bitumen telegraph cable 1994 Loaned for display in Communications Gallery See Note 1 
			  Panel 1 and end plate for the electronic computer Edsac 1 1982 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  Ferranti pegboard program tray 1982 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  HMV portable disc recorder and associated items 1999 Loaned for display in Operation Epsilon See Note 1 
			  Trial model and spare wheel for analytical engine 1999 Loaned for display in exhibition "Cyberworlds: computers and connections" See Note 1 
			  Model of twin screw steamer Islander and five framed photographs Pre 1998 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  Model of the T.S.Majestic Pre 1998 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  Experimental speculum, illustration of the Great Nebula in Orion, experimental compound speculum mirror, a profile gauge with concave profile, a profile gauge with convex profile, an oval secondary speculum mirror and a "Finder" telescopic eyepiece 1998 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  Symphonion twin-disc musical box and 10 pairs of discs 1995 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  A Horn compound condensing beam engine and a Whitworth lathe 1981 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  An Easton Amos & Sons Grasshopper steam engine 1976 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  Three items relating to the Hale war rocket 1992 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  Working scale model of Newcomen atmospheric engine 1985 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  V1 pulse jet engine and V2 graphite vane 1997 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			 National Museum of Science and Industry (National Railway Museum) Four Jersey Railways & Tramways nameplates, four Jersey Railway numberplates, a Jersey Railway coat-of-arms, a departure clock and two locomotive worksplates for 2-4-0 tank 1990 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  Model of East India Railway 3rd class bogie carriage. Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway model of a 4-6-0 locomotive and tender; and a model of a Grand Indian Peninsular Railway tourist carriage 1978 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			  Model of Jenny Lind type locomotive and tender 1956 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 1 
			 Natural History Museum No items are on long-term loan to overseas organisations — — — 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum Nine Chinese/Japanese vases November 1994 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 2 
			  36 objects including dishes, plates and medals etc July 1963 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 2 
			  26 electrotypes and two silver plates October 1976 Loaned to British Embassy Rome See Note 2 
			  Breastplates and gauntlets November 1947 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display See Note 2 
			 Royal Armouries 177 pieces of 17th century munition armour, 316 19th century military pistols, 225 19th century bayonets and 245 19th century swords 1920 Loaned to the Dominion Archivist, Canada; the Australian War Museum, Australia; Ministry of the Interior, New Zealand; the Natal Museum and Port Elizabeth Museum, Pretoria See Note 3 
			  Six 19th century firearms, four bayonets, 12 19th century military swords and 10 items of 17th century munition armour 1922 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Museo de Armas de la Nacion, Argentina See Note 3 
			  Five items of 17th century munition armour; nine 19th century military firearms and seven 19th century edged weapons 1938 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada See Note 3 
			  Six items of 17th century munition armour, 10 19th century military firearms and 11 19th century edged weapons 1938 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Army Museum, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada See Note 3 
			  Three 19th century edged weapons and five 19th century firearms 1938 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Musee de la Civilisation, Quebec, Canada See Note 3 
			  Six items of 17th century munition armour, 6 19th century military firearms and 11 edged weapons 1938 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Canada and Zimbabwe Military Museum, Zimbabwe See Note 3 
			  Six 18th century carbines and four cannon 1949 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Colonial Williamsburg, USA See Note 3 
			  One drum, five firearms and 12 edged weapons 1963 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Newfoundland Museum, USA See Note 3 
			  Seven 19th century edged weapons, five 19th century firearms and a 19th century cannon 1965 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Waterloo Museum, Belgium See Note 3 
			  Three items of 16th century munition armour, four 19th century military firearms and seven 19th century edged weapons 1965 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Mutare Museum (Umtali), Zimbabwe See Note 3 
			  Six bayonets and seven 19th and 20th century firearms 1969 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Jersey Museum Services See Note 3 
			  A 17th century matchlock musket 1971 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the National Museum of Ireland See Note 3 
			  A 16th century Shaffron 1985 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA See Note 3 
			  Four items of 17th century munition armour, one bandoleer and a crossbow bolt 1989 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to Jamestown Yorktown Foundation, USA See Note 3 
			  A 18pdr QF MKII 1987 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Regiment of Artillery Association, India See Note 3 
			  Three 16th century armours and three items of 16th/17th century armour 1998 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display to the Cleveland Museum of Art, USA See Note 3 
			 National Gallery Painting Prince Rupert 1986 Loaned to Government Art Collection, British Embassy Prague Yes 
			  Landscape Painting Hawking Party 1996 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display Yes 
			  Painting The Swearing of the Oath of Ratification of the Treaty of Munster 1999 Loaned for exhibition/gallery display Yes 
			 British Museum A fragment of a sarcophagus 1939 Loaned for study purposes Yes 
			  Four sculptures 1970 Loaned for study purposes Yes 
			  Pottery vessels and fragments of vessels 1964, 1968 and 1984 Loaned for study purposes Yes 
		
	
	Note 1:
	The Board of Trustees of the National Museum of Science and Industry have delegated the decision to approve loan requests to the approvals team at the Science Museum and the loans are vetted by the museum's security adviser.
	Note 2:
	The Board of Trustees of the Victoria and Albert Museum delegate responsibility for the loan of objects individually valued at under £500,000 to the director. All objects currently on long-term overseas loan are valued at under £500,000. All objects on loan are listed in the museum's annual report.
	Note 3:
	The Royal Armouries became a trustee body in 1984. Decisions on overseas loans continued to be taken by museum officers. In 1989 the trustees reviewed a full report of all existing loans and approved the continuation of the procedure of overseas loans being approved by officers. In 2001, a new procedure was adopted and all overseas loans are now approved by the Board of Trustees.

Immigration Staff

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of customer-facing Immigration Service officials at:
	(a) Heathrow Airport;
	(b) Gatwick Airport; and
	(c) Waterloo International Station are of Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin.

Lord Rooker: Central personnel records do not distinguish between "customer-facing" Immigration Service officials and Immigration Service staff in general.
	The percentages given are of those staff whose ethnic origin is centrally recorded. However, ethnicity is recorded on a voluntary basis and so these statistics refer only to those staff who answered the question on ethnicity in a staff survey conducted in 2000 and do not cover all Immigration Service personnel.
	The proportion of Immigration Service staff of Afro-Caribbean or Asian origin is as follows:
	
		
			  Afro-Caribbean Asian 
			 Heathrow Airport 1.90% 21.87% 
			 Gatwick Airport 2.68% 7.14% 
			 Waterloo International 1.85% 12.04%

Definition of "Britain"

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given that the subtitle of the White Paper Secure Borders, Safe Haven refers to "Britain", what is the name of this state in (a) international law and practice; and (b) in domestic law.

Lord Rooker: In internal law and practice the definitions of this state generally refer to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In domestic law, the Interpretation Act 1978 (Schedule 1) sets out that references in any Act to "British Islands" means the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The United Kingdom means Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Definition of "Britain"

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given that immigration is an excepted matter under paragraph 8 of Schedule 8 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, why the White Paper Secure Borders, Safe Haven refers in the subtitle only to "Britain"; and whether it is proposed to change the law in order to devolve responsibility for immigration to Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The title and subtitle to the White Paper do not have legal effect, although the reference to "Britain" in the subtitle was intended to cover the widest possible definition of the British islands.
	The Government have no plans to change the law in order to devolve responsibility for immigration to Northern Ireland.

Asylum Seekers: Voluntary Departure

Baroness Cox: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures are taken to ensure that those who are refused asylum and who agree to depart voluntarily actually do.

Lord Rooker: A voluntary departure is where an asylum seeker withdraws their asylum claim before all appeal rights have been exhausted and wishes to leave the United Kingdom. In all cases they are asked to sign a disclaimer confirming that they wish to leave prior to the conclusion of their application.
	Some individuals make themselves known to the Immigration Service at the point of embarkation, for example, in order to collect ticketing and other documentation. The Immigration Service will confirm with the carrier that individuals have departed from the United Kingdom.
	If an individual does not inform the Immigration Service of his intentions and obtains his/her own documents, we may not be aware that he/she has departed from the United Kingdom.
	Where a person is voluntarily leaving the United Kingdom under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme (VARP), operated on behalf of the Home Office by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), she/he will be assisted at the airport by the IOM. Before the flight leaves, the individual is required to sign a disclaimer confirming that the departure is voluntary. The IOM's London office advises IOM offices in the destination country and any transit country of the departure and notifies the Home Office.

Immigration Removal Centres

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What bail arrangements will be available at immigration removal detention centres.

Lord Rooker: The existing arrangements to seek bail from a chief immigration officer or an adjudicator will be available to persons held in immigration removal centres.

HM Prison Maghaberry: Detention of Asylum Seekers

Lord Eames: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are satisfied with the current arrangements at HM Prison Maghaberry in Northern Ireland for the detention of those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom; and
	Whether they have plans to provide an alternative to prison detention in Northern Ireland for those persons seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.

Lord Rooker: We are satisfied with the arrangements made at Her Majesty's (HM) Prison Maghaberry for the detention of asylum seekers and others but would accept that it is not an ideal situation. As a result, and following our review of immigration detention in Northern Ireland, we have instituted a policy of transferring persons detained in Northern Ireland to immigration removal centres on the mainland unless a specific request is made to stay in Northern Ireland, in which case the detainee in question will continue to be held at HM Prison Maghaberry. There remain no plans to establish a dedicated immigration detention facility in Northern Ireland.

Prison Service and the Private Sector

Lord Bragg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have for the use of the private sector in the Prison Service.

Lord Rooker: We have today placed a report of a review which my right honourable friend the former Home Secretary (Jack Straw) asked Patrick Carter, a non-executive member of the Strategy Board for Correctional Services, to carry out on the future role of the private sector in the prison system.
	We believe that a mixed economy of provision is essential in achieving a modern, dynamic Prison Service.
	We are grateful to Patrick Carter for his report, which shows how much the private sector has achieved to date in providing high quality prison services at lower cost. The report also shows how well the public sector prison service has responded to the challenge of private sector competition.
	Both the public and the private sectors are important to the future of the Prision Service. Both can show big successes that benefit prisoners and the public. We want to create conditions in which both can flourish but in which both have to continually prove themselves. We believe the overall thrust of the recommendations of the report will achieve this. Some can be implemented straightaway but others need further work or will have to be subject to discussions in the current spending review and our wider vision for modernising the Prison Service.
	The proposal that under-performing prisons should be required to show how they will meet tough benchmarked standards or face contracting out or closure offers the potential for big improvements in performance and value for money.
	The report also provides a welcome contribution to finding ways of bringing the ageing prison estate into the 21st century. We will consider this as part of our current assessment of the options for providing a range of carefully targeted new approaches to dealing with offenders and the spending review.
	We note the recommendation for a limited programme of market testing. For the moment, we believe the performance testing process we have announced offers a better, faster and cheaper means of improvement. But we do not rule out using market testing again in the future.
	The private sector has demonstrated that it can make a valuable contribution to the delivery of a high quality service by prisons. This report outlines a way ahead for their continued involvement.

Attorney-General's Department DEL

Baroness David: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are any plans to change the Attorney-General's Department's departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limit for 2001–02.

Lord Goldsmith: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the Attorney-General's Department's DEL will be increased by £8,681,000, from £451,563,000 to £460,244,000, and the administration costs limits will be increased by £7,731,000, from £322,103,000 to £329,834,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital is set out in the following table:
	
		£000 
		
			 Resources Capital 
			 Change New DEL Of Which voted Non-voted Change New DEL Of Which voted Non-voted 
			 6,362 436,276 426,276 10,000 2,319 23,968 23,968 – 
		
	
	The Crown Prosecution Service's DEL will be increased by £8,286,000, from £414,893,000 to £423,179,000, and the administration costs limit will be increased by £7,267,000, from £296,974,000 to £304,241,000. The increase in the resource element of the DEL arises from speeding up the reform of the CPS to allow it to contribute fully to criminal justice targets, implementation of extended court sitting hours and the provision of resources for the CPS prosecutor recovered assets training project. The decrease in DEL arises from the transfer of £120,000 to the Home Office in respect of the CPS's contribution to CJIU. The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from the take up of £2,000,000 of end year flexibility entitlement and a transfer of resources from the Home Office to support the video recording of police interviews. The decrease in capital arises from the return to the Home Office of £150,000 of Capital Modernisation Fund resources.
	HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor's Department DEL will be decreased by £105,000, from £15,745,000 to £15,640,000, and the administration costs limits will be decreased by £36,000, from £10,629,000 to £10,593,000. The decrease in the resource element of the DEL is the net effect of a transfer of £106,000 to clients whose work will become chargeable in the current financial year. The decreases in HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor's Department DEL will be affected by a £1,000 Token Supplementary Estimate.
	The Serious Fraud Office's DEL will be increased by £500,000, from £20,925,000 to £21,425,000, and the administration costs limit will be increased by £500,000, from £14,415,000 to £14,915,000. The increase in the resource element of the DEL arises from development of the Docman information support system and funding of early retirements in support of restructuring of the Serious Fraud Office to enable it to contribute fully to criminal justice targets.
	The increases will be entirely met by a transfer from the Criminal Justice System reserve, transfers from the Home Office and take up of captial end year flexibility entitlement.
	The additional expenditure will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Statins

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ask the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to advise general practitioners on prescribing statins, in view of the study by the Medical Research Council and the British Heart Foundation relating to reduced vascular events and deaths experienced by patients with a previous history of coronary and vascular disease.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have no plans at present to ask the National Institute for Clincial Excellence to advise general practitioners on the prescribing of the statin group of drugs. Current guidance is available in the National Service Framework (NSF) for Coronary Heart Disease (published March 2000), as amended by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO)'s Update 29. Data on prescribing of statins in primary care shows a substantial increase in prescribing since the NSF was published in line with the recommendations in the NSF for the effective treatment of patients with established coronary heart disease to prevent further coronary events. This trend is continuing with prescribing of statins currently increasing by about 30 per cent each year.
	The full findings of the research by the Medical Research Council and the British Heart Foundation, called the Heart Protection Study, are expected later this year. We will consider whether any further guidance is necessary when the full results are available.

Digital Hearing Aids

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have had concerning the rate of progress in making the digital hearing aid available to National Health Service trusts; what percentage of hearing-impaired people they plan to have fitted with the aid by the end of each of the years 2002–03 and 2003–04; and when they expect digital hearing aids to be available to all those eligible for the aid.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have received a great deal of correspondence regarding the Modernising Hearing Aid Services project, including over 10,000 postcards from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. It is estimated that there are currently 1.5 million hearing aid users in this country. We do not know the number of people with a hearing impairment who may benefit from an aid but are not currently using one. As of the end of January 2002, 16,352 people have been fitted with digital hearing aids by the 20 sites currently involved in the pilot project. We have announced that the additional £20 million funding for the project for next year will mean that there will be 50 sites fitting digital hearing aids by the end of March 2003. This will mean that one-third of the country will have access to a site participating in the project.
	The research evaluation of this project will help to inform the modernisation of hearing aid services across the country. The Government will use the report to inform decisions about how best to make a modernised service available more widely.

Health Improvement Commission Report

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the 2000–01 Annual Report of the Commission for Health Improvement will be published.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The combined annual report and accounts Holding a mirror up to ourselves have been published and copies have been placed in the Library.

Prime Minister's Visit to Africa

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many planes were chartered during the visit by the Prime Minister to Africa in February; and
	What was the cost of chartered planes for the visit by the Prime Minister to Africa in February.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Since 1999 this Government have published a list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers, including the Prime Minister, costing £500 or more during each financial year. The information requested will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. As promised in my Answer of 9 January [Official Report, col. WA 112], a copy of the list will be sent to the noble Lord when it is published.
	All travel was undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Northern Ireland Bill of Rights

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 14 January (WA 144), whether they will make available the letter of 18 May 2001 from the Prime Minister's office to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: A copy of the letter from the Prime Minister's office to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission dated 18 May 2001 will be placed in the Library.

IRA-attributed Murders

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many murders are alleged to have been committed by the IRA in (a) County Londonderry, excluding the city and (b) the City of Londonderry during each year from 1971 to 1980; and in how many cases successful prosecutions followed.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: It is not possible to provide the statistics in the format requested. The table below provides the number of murders attributed to republican groups and the number of murders where charges have been brought.
	
		
			  City of Londonderry County Londonderry (excluding the city) 
			 Number of murders attributed to republican groups(3) 96 44 
			  
			 Number of above murders for which charges have been brought(1) 24 17 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Includes Strand Road, Waterside and Shantallow Station areas.
	2. Includes Limavady, Coleraine and Magherafelt Sub-Divisions and Eglinton and Claudy Station areas (both within Waterside sub-division).
	3. Murders cannot be attributed to specific groups. The table provides the total number of murders by republicans.
	4. The police database does not include details of prosecutions. The table gives the number of murders that have resulted in charges being brought.

IRA-attributed Murders

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of murders alleged to have been committed by the IRA from 1970 to date have resulted in successful prosecutions.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: It is not possible to answer the Question in the format requested (successful prosecutions). However, I have attached statistics that incorporate the bringing of charges for murders attributed to republican groups.
	
		Security Situation Statistics 1 January 1970 to 7 February 2002 
		
			 Number  
			 Number of murders attributed to Republican groups 1,803 
			  
			 Number of murders (attributed to Republicans) where charges have been brought 518 (29%) 
		
	
	Note:
	Statistics are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.

Northern Ireland Human RightsCommission: Staffing

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 4 February (WA75–76), whether the only groups consulted by Mr Peter Hosking in reviewing the work of the commission were those in the letter of 3 January, and whether all groups listed were consulted.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The list included in the Chief Commissioner's letter of 3 January represented the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's suggested contact list at the start of the evaluation process. A full list of all those contacted will be available once Mr Hosking submits his report to the commission. The chief commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord at that time.

Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the decisions of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on 7 February, how best they will (a) review the mechanisms for the work of the Police Ombudsman; and (b) develop the best working relationships between the Police Ombudsman and all parties, including governments, involved in the provision of policing in Northern Ireland.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: In response to the Northern Ireland Policing Board's recommendations on the Omagh report, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has stated that he would wish to follow up with the board and others their views on any further steps to take. This would include the board's suggestions of the review mechanism for the work of the Police Ombudsman and consideration of how best to develop good working relationships.

Occupational Pension Schemes

Lord Howie of Troon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will make changes to the minimum funding requirement for occupational pension schemes.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The minimum funding requirement (MFR) is not working as intended, and we have announced proposals to replace it as soon as parliamentary time for the necessary primary legislation becomes available. These proposals will mean better protection and more effective security for pension scheme members, and we are currently working with the pensions industry, consumer organisations, employers and trade unions to take our proposals forward.
	In the meantime regulations have been laid before Parliament today which will enable the MFR to operate more effectively in the period leading up to its replacement and which improve protection for members when an employer decides to wind a scheme up. Draft regulations were issued for consultation on 18 September 2001, and the consultation period ended on 10 December. A summary of the responses to the consultation has been placed in the Library.

Rother District Council: Benefit Fraud Inspectorate Report

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of Rother District Council.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate report was published today in respect of Rother District Council and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
	Inspectors found that the council needs to improve on its performance and address weaknesses to provide an effective and secure gateway to the benefits system. The council welcomed the inspection as an opportunity to review and improve its benefits services and expressed a commitment to improve the efficiency, security and integrity of its service.
	The report identifies a lack of consistency in evidence gathering and verifying claims and details a number of reasons for this including a failure to promote benefits, an inadequate telephone service, a poorly designed claim form, the lack of a benefits visiting team and inadequate training of staff. Improvements are also recommended for the processes for handling renewal claims and reported changes in circumstances to ensure that claims are free from fraud and error. The council's approach to identifying and providing staff training was found to be inadequate.
	A further area of concern was the classification of overpayments, and the BFI makes recommendations to ensure fraud and error is detected at an early stage to keep overpayments to a minimum. The council was found to have effective systems for investigating fraud and recovering benefit overpayments. Internal and external audit's provision of a robust and effective audit service gives some assurance for the security of the benefits system.
	Rother District Council is a good example of an authority responding positively and effectively to weaknesses identified by the BFI and thus providing a more secure and accurate benefits service to its community. The report makes recommendations to help the council address weaknesses and to improve the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit, as well as counter fraud activities.
	My right honourable friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the findings and recommendations of the BFI.

Southampton City Council: Benefit Fraud Inspectorate Report

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of Southampton City Council.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate report was published today in respect of Southampton City Council and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
	The council has been working with a private company to provide IT solutions and improve its benefits service. Inspectors found that this work was still being implemented at the time of the inspection. It noted that some sound processes were in place but that the overall service being provided had weaknesses. A number of these could be attributed to the backlog of work that arose out of the introduction of new technology despite the council's efforts to plan and manage the change. This backlog was exacerbated by the staff's lack of familiarity with the new IT systems.
	Southampton has been using a variety of claim forms of differing quality but was in the process of designing a single form taking account of the BFI's model claim form.
	The report finds that there has been a history of inconsistent standards in the verification of claims for benefit. As a result the council could not provide the necessary assurance that the gateway to the benefit was secure.
	The council makes benefit payments in a number of ways and this is commended in the report, but some weaknesses were found in the security of these payments. In the case of overpayments, the report recognises that the council has a number of good practices for identifying and classifying overpayments.
	In the case of fraud investigations, it is reported that the council needs to address the organisation and management of its benefits investigation unit if it is to improve the quality of its investigations. Delay in completing investigations and poor quality investigations were identified despite a considerable financial resource spent on training. Better use of the fraud case management system is recommended. At the time of the inspection Southampton was making proposals to restructure the investigation unit.
	Southampton has a number of good practices, such as the way it has managed change. Inspectors were also impressed with its arrangements to train new, and inexperienced staff.
	The report makes recommendations to help the council address weaknesses and to improve the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit, as well as counter fraud activities.
	My right honourable friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the findings and recommendations of the BFI.